Tester for storage batteries



INVENTOR Gerald 6/102 Sept.25, 1934. e. H. ALLEN TESTER FOR STORAGEBATTERIES Filed Feb. 28, 1931 Patented Sept. 25, 1934 UNITED STATESTESTER FOR STORAGE BATTERIES Gerald H. Allen, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignorto Allen Electric and Equipment Company,

' Kalamazoo, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application February 28,1931, Serial No. 519,081

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improved tester for storage batteries.

The objects of the invention are:

First, to provide a simple, compact and efficient structure for thepurpose.

Second, to provide an improved shape of meter mounting bracket capableof being made of flat rolled stock.

Third, to provide improved means of assembling the handle, bracket andprods.

Objects relating to details of construction and operation will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claim. Astructure embodying the features of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved battery tester.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation view taken from the left of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the reading of the voltmeter.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing detailsof construction and the method of attaching the voltmeter to thebrackets.

The parts will be identified by their numerals of reference which arethe same in all the Views.

1 is the handle of the cell tester and serves as the support for all theother parts. The prods 2 and 3 are identical and are made of half-roundmetal tapered at 31 from the half-round side to sharp points, at anangle of about 60 degrees. This is preferably accomplished by clampingthe two half-rounds together in a lathe chuck and turning the two pointsat a single operation. The upper ends are bent parallel and are insertedinto a bore 4 in the handle 1 (see Fig. 4), thus forming a shank. Themetal parts may or may not be protected by cadmium or other plating andfinally finished with clear lacquer to protect them.

5 is a blade of insulation inserted between the two prods in the socketor bore 4. The insulation is not indispensable if the prods are held inspaced relation. 6 are the supporting brackets of iden- 45 tical formsupported by semi-circular curved ends 61 disposed in an annular groove7 around the handle 1. The groove could be dispensed with. These partsare clamped together by screws 8 extending therethrough and radiallythrough the handle, being screw threaded into the opposite prod members2 and 3 (Fig. 4) and holding them separately. By this means the bracketsare connected electrically each to one of the prods and the prods areinsulated from each other.

Vertical eyes 62 are turned in the outer ends of the bracket arms 8 anda voltmeter 9 is carried thereby and is insulated therefrom by a sheetof insulating fiber 10 disposed on the top of the brackets. Thevoltmeter is retained in place by bolts 11 through the vertical eyes 62which serve as the binding posts for the said voltmeter as well as theattaching means therefor. The voltmeter could be otherwise supported.

A resistance element 12, preferably made of a metal with a lowtemperature coeii'icient, is disposed between the prods and securedthereto by binding posts 121, 121 at each side, which are preferablysupplemented by solder 122. These, however, may be secured by rivetingor by spot welding. The binding posts are preferable on account of thefacility with which the parts may be renewed in the event of injury.

In the use of my improved battery tester the points are pressedsufiiciently to prick through the oxide or corrosion to the metal of thebattery terminals and are then gently pressed to place. The heatdeveloped at once softens the lead so that the points drop to a uniformdepth, thus insuring uniformity of testing. The voltmeter is carefullycalibrated under this 003C111 tion and thus secures uniformity of test.

I have shown a very specific, special form of construction of thevarious parts, which possesses great merit in economy of construction.It will be observed that no ferrules, bushings, washers or special formsof insulating material are made use of. By using fiat stock for thebrackets great economy is accomplished. Stock materials without anyspecial form are thus made use of at a minimum of expense.

I desire therefore to claim the invention in its specific form, as wellas broadly, as pointed out in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

In a tester, the combination of an insulating handle having a centralsocket round in cross section, prods of half-round metal having pointsformed by tapering from the rounded side and disposed in parallel spacedrelation, said prods at the upper ends being bent and fitted fiat sidestogether to form a shank to fit within the said socket, an insulatorblade between the said prods within the socket, a bracket made up ofparallel arms, having the outer ends of said bracket arms turned intoeyes and having semi-circular inner ends disposed in an annular groovearound the said handle, the prods and bracket being retained together bycross screws through the said bracket and handle and threaded onto saidprods, and

a meter having binding posts disposed in the

